Contacts: From the award-winning comedian, the most heartwarming, touching and funny fiction book of 2021

I remember when this came out and everyone was talking about it. So I was really looking forward to getting stuck in.I loved the premise (if that’s the right word, considering the topic) but I have to say this fell a little short for me.One of the main issues was Emil, I found him constantly wondering if he would get to be with Steffi very disconcerting. Would someone really be that creepy given the situation?However, I did like how the other characters were written, and I felt the storyline was realistic. You could easily see how James had got into this situation and to be honest, I think we have all been there when a chain of events seem to go wrong, and we aren’t close to people as we were.I did feel the story lacked something, and the ending was a bit strange as well.All in all, not an awful book, there were some pluses, but I wouldn’t rush to recommend it.

An original well written story that was a pleasure to read. There really is an ending you don't see coming.

Not easy reading at times but as it should be for a story of this nature!Great characters that you really got to know.

James Chiltern has had enough. The woman he loves has left him, he's fallen out with his sister, he's lost the job he loved and worse, in the process he also lost his best friend. Seriously depressed, he gets on the sleeper train from London to Edinburgh, fires a farewell text to all his contacts and puts his phone into flight mode as he plans his suicide.We are used to seeing stories about how social media is the root of all evil in our modern lives, but here Mark Watson explores how in fact we are now connected more than ever before, and what a force for good, for positive change it could be. He handles the backstory to James's depression delicately, with empathy and wisdom. And he doesn't let any of the supporting cast off the hook, making them all face their culpability in the situation as they realise it may be too late to offer James the support he's clearly been needing - if they can even find him.

A simple concept, well written, and maintains its dramatic intensity throughout, recommended for those who want to try something different.

Good read from Mark Watson as usual. However, there is no typical Mark Watson book as they are all different. This is no exception but although he's an excellent stand-up comedian do not expect it to be comic.

I have always liked novels written by Mark Watson. They are funny without being annoying and he writes characters that you can empathise with and believe.It is a good book but the reason why I gave it 4 rather than 5 stars is that I felt a bit disappointed in the end. I wanted to know more about what happened to certain characters like Stephi but it kind of just ended.Other than that, it's a good read.

Having suffered from depression/anxiety, I can identify with the main character, James. I wouldn’t describe the book as being ‘actually’ depressing, as some reviewers have written. I would describe it more as enlightening. That said, I found the storyline rather drawn out.There are three themes running through- the evolution of mobile phones, Facebook, Instagram etc- the loneliness a person feels through low self esteem/depression- how people’s opinions differ from the person who feels useless when in fact they’ve overlooked their positive character traits.From the offset (and synopsis) the reader knows that a sent text telling 158 of his contacts - James means to end his life. From then on the backgrounds of the main characters are detailed and their parts in James’s life and demise in self worth are detailed. James chooses to take an overnight train to Edinburgh to carry out his plan.The question is whether with the explosion of the internet and mobile phone usage, can James’s life be saved with its ability to reach many, many people.Certainly a good read but just stretched out in parts for my liking.